Project empty loft space. Newbie try to figure out what I am doing.

[sc23]

A simple explanation is you will always want to look at the centre of the screen. Therefore if you are stuck on the sides facing straight ahead your neck is going to be turned while playing, hardly ideal. Its as simple as that. CP needs to be designed so that all players are facing centre of screen, doesn't matter how big screen is you have to look at the centre to focus.
Also, I could be wrong but Smash isn't a game that can really be played properly with arcade controls. If you have a button mapping that works for you great, but for me it just felt bad. If cab is designed around Smash I would look into it.
Everyone has the right to go their own way with a build, if its what you want DO IT you can change the CP layout later if it doesn't work. But start cutting some wood or make some mock ups. Things will come to you as you are building, you will learn as you go. but overthinking and planning lead nowhere. This thread is nearly 4 pages in and no wood has been cut.

[StammesOpfer]

I don't see it as science or art, I see it as just experience talking. I don't know if you are referring to the 6 buttons on p3 and p4 simply for smash bros as the issue you wanted clarification on, but it all just boils down to "1 game isn't worth it" on this big of a machine.

I know you said -

The games that matter for me are mostly shooters and fighters (easy 2p stuff). But the friends and I love some Super Smash Bros. That is the big driver for 4p full controls. It plays pretty well on arcade controls. I don't want p3 and p4 using console controllers.

But we have all been there. we all had that holy grail game we really wanted to play on our cabs and consistently, people here have found that it isn't ever worth to design an entire cab around 1 game unless you want it as a dedicated machine. This is no different than the awkwardly placed tron stick. It collects dust and makes the controls that much harder to work with.

Also, keep in mind that an arcade machine is a big "wow factor" device, and playing smash bros on a large tv is fully possible for anyone who has a  nintendo and a tv. You won't be creating that different of an experience from the console other than everyone is stacked in a row.

I also have to wonder if the controls are really that good on a street fighter control scheme. There are really only two attack buttons in SB, and I see no mental way to logically map the button placement for things like shield, jump, grab and taunt, and i wouldn't know how to parse out the c-stick. If I remember right, it is used for smash attacks, rolling and aerial attacks and they differ depending on which direction you press the stick. I don't even know how it would be accomplished unless you plan on chopping that functionality out to play the game with just the buttons.

If you are looking for an engineering reason why 6 buttons isn't a good idea on player 3 and player 4, think about how P3 will need to be squared up to the control area to use 6 buttons with proper wrist space. Now with only 3 buttons, the player can stand further off the to side, because the buttons will be comfortably usable by just stretching out the arm a little more and swinging the body out. This give a lot more shoulder space for player 1 and 2, and everyone is more comfortable without needing a control panel that you could play shuffleboard on.


Just some food for thought, feel free to take it or leave it. I think basing your controls around 1 game that all your friends probably already own might be mistake, but it is ultimately your machine. 

Thank you.

I don't really need the clarification on the number of buttons I understand that and different peoples perspective on it. I suppose the part about people being square to the controls and everything being comfortable to play on is where I am struggling. I know you gave me the answer of don't use that many buttons. However plenty of people do use that many. I would like to do so as well. I don't know if they have the best solution but I would like to try and have the best solution for the given set of conditions. As for enough shoulder room it does resemble a shuffleboard board a little right now. Though given a widescreen TV that shuffleboard is only about 6 inches wider on each side at the control panel than the screen part.

Super Smash Bros for N64 is playable with these controls. Just ditch taunt, grab on the thumb and shield on the player start button. Yes most other controllers you would have to figure out what to do if you even want to try and make them work. I am not sure I will.

Everyone has the right to go their own way with a build, if its what you want DO IT you can change the CP layout later if it doesn't work. But start cutting some wood or make some mock ups. Things will come to you as you are building, you will learn as you go. but overthinking and planning lead nowhere. This thread is nearly 4 pages in and no wood has been cut.

I did cut some wood to make the mockup CP. But fair point I need to start doing this. I think I will run with the cabinet I can always change the CP later. Your thoughts on the angled outside players is kind of how I was planning on determining how much of an angle. I was looking at 20 deg but may go more like 25-30 deg and just build it.

[sc23]

I wouldn't get to technical about it, just on your mock up stand at player 3 spot and stand at an angle that faces centre of where screen will be place your hands down and bam... that's where stick and buttons need to be. Then fine tune it to make it symmetrical. I wasn't trying to suggest just building with out thought. But I would get the base and screen frame built and drill the CP holes relative to the screen, and then you can trial different positions. Theres no reason you cant build it so you can swap out CP for different config at later date, just don't spend big bucks on graphics till you are happy.